Match

Richmond vs West Coast Eagles

Commentary / 11 May 2025

Pre Game

00:00
These are the bottom-2 ranked teams at winning contested possessions. Richmond won only 84 contested possessions in Round 8, which is its third-least ever recorded. West Coast is ranked last in contested possession differential this season. The Eagles were also ranked last for this measure in 2024, 2023 and 2022.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:36
Thomas Sims makes his debut today for the Tigers. Sims has kicked five goals in five VFL games this season after kicking 23 goals last season in the Coates Talent League and will support Toby Nankervis in the ruck today.
01:08
An early set shot miss from Matt Owies followed some good ball movement from the Eagles. West Coast is ranked 17th for overall accuracy this season and ranked last for shots 15-30 metres from goal.
04:08
Richmond has an early 8-2 lead in contested possessions, including 5-2 ground balls. The Tigers have lost this count by an average of 12 per game this season.
04:33
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Kane McAuliffe)
05:07
The first score for Richmond followed a forward half intercept. The Tigers average 19.6 points per game from this source (ranked 17th).
07:58
The first goal of the game for the Tigers came from a defensive 50 chain. Richmond has averaged only 10.1 points per game from these chains (ranked last).
09:11
Richmond had eight shots at goal in the first quarter last round for a total score of three points. This is the fewest ever points in a quarter for a team with eight-plus shots at goal.
11:23
The Tigers are on top early in contests at stoppages (clearances 5-2) and in general play (post-clearance contested possessions 14-6).
13:55
The Tigers have recorded an average pressure factor this season of 168, which is the lowest in the league and on track to be the lowest pressure factor recorded by any team in a season. Both teams have recorded pressure ratings of 200 to start this game.
14:35
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Steely Green)
15:42
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
17:35
An accurate set shot from Tim Taranto has punished a turnover by the Eagles. Richmond now leads 5-2 in forward half intercepts and 8-0 in points scored from this source. Taranto has now kicked 5.1 this season for the Tigers.
19:38
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Seth Campbell)
19:45
Seth Campbell is ranked No.1 at the Tigers for scoreboard impact this season and has now kicked 13 goals and provided 10 score assists. All three goals for Richmond have come from turnovers.
21:02
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)
22:36
West Coast has not generated an inside 50 entry from its first 11 defensive 50 chains. Richmond has generated four inside 50 entries from just six such chains, with a big gap between the teams in the quality of ball movement to start this game.
23:54
All three scores for the Eagles have been launched with a centre bounce clearance, as West Coast struggles to effectively move the ball in general play. The Eagles average 5.2 points per game from centre bounce clearances (ranked last).
26:38
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Luke Trainor)
28:18
An opportunistic goal from the crafty Jamie Cripps has finally given the Eagles their first goal, which followed a forward half intercept. Cripps is the No.1 ranked Eagle for scoreboard impact this season with 11 goals and eight score assists.
30:43
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jayden Hunt)
30:51
A brilliant knock-on from Jamie Cripps has set up the second goal for the Eagles. This capped the best ball movement of the game for West Coast, with the goal coming from a defensive half intercept.
31:53
Richmond had much the better of the opening quarter with 39-24 contested possessions, including 10-2 hard ball gets. The Tigers scored 14 points from defensive half chains (they average 27 per game) and linked well with handballs (51-31).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:08
Tim Taranto was the No.1 rated player in the opening term. Taranto won eight contested possessions (the next most was only four), and 12 of his 13 disposals were effective.
01:40
Three consecutive goals to the Eagles have come from their last three inside 50 entries. West Coast leads 6-5 in forward 50 tackles, with the last of these by Matt Owies resulting in a goal.
03:38
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jake Waterman)
03:48
A stunning burst of goals from the Eagles, who lead contested possessions 6-2 this quarter, with the last of these a contested mark by Jake Waterman. West Coast leads centre bounce clearances 5-3 and points from this source 9-0.
05:24
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)
06:42
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)
08:20
A goal on debut for Thomas Sims following a strong contested mark. It again came from a defensive half chain, and the Tigers now lead 20-6 in points scored from these chains.
11:21
West Coast leads the tackle count 28-18. Richmond has lost this count by an average of 11 per game (ranked last).
12:14
Two goals from three inside 50 entries this quarter for the Tigers following a ground ball win by Tom Lynch. Richmond now leads 7-2 in forward 50 ground balls.
13:41
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Matthew Owies)
13:49
A brilliant reflex handball by Jake Waterman provided the assist for the Matt Owies goal, which again came from a centre bounce clearance. West Coast now leads 16-0 in points scored from this source.
16:18
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Seth Campbell)
16:34
Seth Campbell has now kicked multiple goals in six games this season, with his last goal again coming from a defensive half chain. Richmond now leads 39-13 in points scored from turnovers and West Coast leads 22-1 in points scored from stoppages.
18:10
West Coast has dominated at stoppages this quarter with 9-0 clearances and 25-0 points scored from this source. Three of these goals have come from centre bounces.
19:58
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
22:19
Former Tiger Jack Graham is averaging 25.6 pressure acts eper game this season (ranked equal-third in the AFL). Graham has already recorded 17 pressure acts today, with the next most by any other player 12 (Harley Reid).
26:15
Richmond averages 6.9 forward 50 tackles per game this season (ranked last). The Tigers lead 10-8 in such tackles today with both teams generating scoring shots from this forward pressure.
26:30
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rhyan Mansell)
27:43
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Jack Ross)
29:06
The last goal from Jamie Cripps was the first of the quarter for the Eagles to come from a turnover. West Coast leads the inside 50 count 16-11 this quarter, with half of these generated through stoppage wins.
30:20
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Rhyan Mansell)
30:40
An excellent crumb and goal from Rhyan Mansell has given the Tigers their first goal of the game to come from a stoppage, and their first score from a centre bounce.
32:31
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jake Waterman)
33:13
For the second week in a row, the Eagles have won the second quarter. Including today, West Coast has won only four quarters this season. A streak of nine consecutive clearances produced four goals for the Eagles during the second term.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:09
Tim Kelly spent 93 per cent of the first half playing as a forward for the Eagles, and his seven disposals at 100 per cent efficiency included three score assists among five score involvements.
02:21
An early goal for the Tigers and Tom Brown, with this their third goal of the game to come from a forward half intercept. Richmond leads 82-59 in handball receives with Tom Brown on the end of a creative handball from Tom Lynch.
04:04
Tim Taranto has won 30 and 35 disposals, respectively, in two wins this season, while averaging 23.3 disposals in losses. Taranto has already had 21 disposals today, with former Tiger Liam Baker recording the next most (14).
05:06
Richmond has won four of the first five clearances to start the third quarter and also leads contested possession 12-7. The last score from Tom Lynch came from one of these clearances. The Tigers have won eight of the last ten clearances in the game.
06:20
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Tom Lynch)
08:34
In the last four games, West Coast has lost the around-the-ground clearances by 10.3 per game (ranked last). The Eagles trail 8-15 in clearances from around-the-ground stoppages today.
09:02
Tigers Interchange - Nathan Broad off due to an injury.
09:20
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jake Waterman)
11:30
An excellent passage of play from West Coast through the corridor has resulted in its third goal of the game from a defensive half intercept. The Eagles now lead 73-67 in corridor disposals.
13:53
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Hugo Ralphsmith)
14:40
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Matthew Owies)
14:50
In the third quarter, West Coast leads 213-162 in pressure rating. Overall, the Eagles are also ahead in the tackle count (45-37).
17:43
Jamie Cripps continues to be dangerous in the forward half for the Eagles with three classy goals. West Coast now leads 34-9 in points scored from stoppages following the forward 50 stoppage goal from Cripps.
19:35
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Tim Kelly)
20:01
West Coast leads 8-1 in forward alf intercepts this quarter and has generated eight of the last nine inside 50 entries in a period of territorial ascendancy.
23:05
West Coast leads 4-0 in forward 50 marks this quarter and 10-6 overall in this measure. Both teams average nine such marks per game.
23:31
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Matt Flynn)
26:05
West Coast has kicked 4.7 from set shots this quarter, including four misses this quarter and the last three scores of the game have been behinds from set shots by the Eagles.
26:48
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Rhyan Mansell)
27:26
A rare goal from a kick-chain for the Tigers, who have now scored an equal season-high 20 points from defensive 50 chains.Richmond has generated ten inside 50 entries from defensive 50 chains, while West Coast has had just five such inside 50 entries.
30:39
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Toby Nankervis)
30:56
While the Eagles have a narrow 16-15 lead in forward half intercepts, the Tigers lead 28-10 in points scored from this source following the last goal from Toby Nankervis.
32:32
The Eagles generated more inside 50 entries in the third quarter (16-10), and had more shots at goal (7-5), but failed to convert four set shots, leaving the Tigers to win the quarter 20-17.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:55
Tom Lynch has had ten disposals in the forward 50 today, which have resulted in two goals and two score assists. No other Tiger has had more than five disposals in the forward 50.
01:22
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Harley Reid)
01:52
Harley Reid has recorded a team-high 456 metres gained today from a team-high 18 disposals, which includes the last long-range goal.
02:39
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Tim Kelly)
04:13
SCORE GOAL - Tigers (Hugo Ralphsmith)
04:43
Richmond has generated 14 intercepts in the attacking midfield and scored 26 points from these chains. West Coast has generated 13 intercepts in this zone, but scored only two points from this source.
05:51
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
07:47
The last two games that West Coast has won both occurred after trailing at the final change. The Eagles have not won at the MCG since Round 8, 2021.
10:03
West Coast lost the clearances by 21 in the first half last week (27 to 6), which is the second-worst ever differential recorded in an opening half. The Eagles lead the clearances 31-28 today.
10:50
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Kamdyn McIntosh)
11:42
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Hutchinson)
12:39
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Rushed)
13:04
Richmond has taken more intercept marks today (13-6), with four of these taken by Nick Vlaustin, who has won a game-high nine intercept possessions, three of which have launched scoring chains.
15:46
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Bailey J. Williams)
15:53
Both goals for the Eagles in the final quarter have come from defensive half stoppages. West Coast has averaged only 3.1 points per game from this source.
17:38
Jack Graham has now recorded 103 pressure points today, which is the most by any player in a game this season. Graham has applied 12 tackles among 40 pressure acts.
18:38
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Tom Brown)
19:32
The Tigers have taken eight intercept marks in the final quarter, with the Eagles having difficulty clearing the ball from their defensive half. Richmond also leads 11-1 in forward half intercepts during this period.
22:13
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Tom Lynch)
24:42
Richmond has won the inside 50 count 14-7 in the final quarter, and had the ball in its forward half for 69 per cent of this term, forcing the Eagles to defend for long periods.
27:51
Eagles Interchange - Harry Edwards off due to the blood rule.
28:27
The last time these teams played in a game with a single-digit result was Round 13, 2021 when the Eagles won by four points.
28:43
SCORE BEHIND - Tigers (Kane McAuliffe)
30:01
In the last ten minutes, there have been 23 contested possessions and only 11 uncontested possessions, with 20 tackles restricting ball movement.
31:23
Richmond has managed to hang on for a two-point win. The Tigers won more contested possessions (142-130), and while the Eagles won points scored from stoppages (49-11), Richmond finished with more points from turnovers (64-29), including 38-10 from forward half intercepts.